Patents by Inventor Jan Peirs

Jan Peirs has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240136953
    Abstract: A piezo actuator includes a piezo motor element having a top and a bottom surface, and a connection element having arms with flexure hinges for contacting the piezo motor element at different fixation positions located at node positions of a bending mode of the piezo motor element. The flexure hinges are such that the piezo motor element is allowed to move in the normal direction and the flexure hinges being stiff in the tangential direction, wherein the flexure arms are fixed to the piezo motor element with a fixation means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Tobias WAUMANS, Jan PEIRS
  • Patent number: 11356040
    Abstract: A piezo actuator comprises a piezo material having a first, top surface, a second, bottom surface, and a third, circumference surface. The piezo material has a polarity and the piezo material includes one or more mounting holes in the piezo material, the one or more mounting holes being positioned substantially central in at least the top surface or the bottom surface of the piezo material. The actuator also comprises at least one contact point for contacting a load to be actuated, the at least one contact point being positioned on the third, circumference, surface of the piezo material, and a set of electrodes being positioned on the top surface of the piezo material and at least one electrode being positioned at the bottom surface of the piezo material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Xeryon
    Inventors: Jan Peirs, Bruno Kersschot, Steven Cappa
  • Publication number: 20190267915
    Abstract: A piezo actuator comprises a piezo material having a first, top, surface, a second, bottom, surface, and a third, circumference, surface. The piezo material has a polarity and the piezo material Comprises one or more mounting holes in the piezo material, the one or more mounting holes being positioned substantially central in at least the top surface or the bottom surface of the piezo material. The actuator also comprises at least one contact point for contacting a load to be actuated, the at least one contact point being positioned on the third, circumference, surface of the piezo material, and a set of electrodes being positioned on the top surface of the piezo material and at least one electrode being positioned at the bottom surface of the piezo material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Jan PEIRS, Bruno KERSSCHOT, Steven CAPPA
  • Publication number: 20160336504
    Abstract: A piezo-device for positioning a load is described. The piezo-device comprises a stator module comprising one or more piezo-electric actuator(s) oriented in a single direction. The stator module furthermore comprises at least one hinge for allowing deformation of the stator module upon actuation of the piezo-electric actuator. The piezo-device also comprises a slider or rotor module, the slider or rotor module being in contact with the stator module in at least three points of contact. The at least one hinge and the one or more piezo-electric actuator(s) are arranged in position with respect to each other for providing a tangential motion of the slider or rotor module upon actuation of the at least one piezo-actuator. The slider or the rotor are driven and supported through the points of contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventor: Jan PEIRS
  • Patent number: 9027431
    Abstract: An apparatus having a member that revolves about a remote center of motion (RCM) and a base link coupled to a mounting fixture. A first and second link are pivotably coupled to the member at respective distances from the RCM and are translatable relative to the base link along a first direction, at a fixed ratio of displacement. The ratio of respective distances equals a fixed ratio of displacement. The apparatus has a translational motion generator for a first and second element along parallel opposing directions. The translational motion generator is disposed on the first link and enables motion parallel to the first direction. The base link is fixed in position, the first element is fixed to the base link and the second element is fixed to the second link, such that the first and second link may translate relative to the base link with fixed ratio of displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
    Inventors: Hsiao-Wei Tang, Hendrik Van Brussel, Jan Peirs, Thierry Janssens
  • Publication number: 20120132018
    Abstract: Apparatus comprising a member (6) arranged to revolve about a remote centre of motion (O) and a base link (3) coupled to a mounting fixture (1). A first link (4) and a second link (5) are pivotably coupled to the member at respective distances (L1, L2) from the remote centre of motion (O) and are translatable relative to the base link (3) along a first direction and at a fixed ratio of displacement. The ratio of said respective distances equals said fixed ratio of displacement, enabling the member (6) to revolve about the remote centre of motion. The apparatus is characterised in that it comprises means (7) for generating translational motion of a first element (37) and of a second element (57) along parallel but opposite directions. The means for generating translational motion is provided on the first link (4) and is arranged to provide motion parallel to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Hsiao-Wei Tang, Hendrik Van Brussel, Jan Peirs, Thierry Janssens